Combination lock

ABSTRACT

A combination lock having shiftable drive lugs to facilitate full use of combination rings. The rings are floatingly mounted within a housing and retained in place by confining walls. A detent brake holds the rings against inadvertent sympathetic movement that is urged by their frictional contact.

United States Patent 1 1 Barrett et a]. Apr. 2, 1974 [54] COMBINATION LOCK 195,815 10/1877 Goodrich 70 316 [75] Inventors: Iral D. Barrett, Salem; Daniel L. Spool, Sci), both of Oreg- 453,238 6/1891 Hall et al. 70/309 [73] Assignee: Supra Products, Inc., Salem, Oreg. [22] Filed: 1972 ft gizf r l irr n 102563121 Sparkman 211 Appl. No.1 304,619 Campbell, Leighjl-lall & Whinston I [52] US. Cl 70/302, 70/316, 70/327 [57] ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl. 1305b 37/08 [58] Field of Search 0 70/302, 303 A 303 R 316, comb1nat1on lock havmg s h1ftal3le drlve lugs to fa- 70/318 323 326 327 328 334 e1l1tate full use of combination rmgs. The nngs are floatingly mounted within a housing and retained in [56] References Cited place by confining walls. A detent brake holds the I rings against inadvertent sympathetic movement that UNITED STATES PATENTS is urged by their frictional contact. 370,568 9/1887 Stoner 70/302 858,744 6/1907 Murphy 70/327 7 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures COMBINATION LOCK DESCRIPTION The invention relates to combination locks and has for its main object a lock having combination elements so driven as to permit usage of all the operative portions of the elements.

Another object is to provide a combination lock having drive wheels and removable combination rings which are floatingly mounted on the wheels and retained in'place by abutment means or walls.

A further object is to provide a lock having combination rings and a brake to hold the rings against inadvertent movement during relative rotation therebetween,

A still further object is to provide a simple improved combination lock. v Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a key vault having a closure equipped with a combination lock of my invention;

FIG. 2 is a somewhatenlarged fragmentary vertical section taken along line 2-2 of FIG. '1;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the lock with the cover substantially broken away; 7 FIG. 4 is a view of the inner face ofa drive wheel of the lock;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view of the relationship of the drive lugs and elements of the combination.

The invention includes a key vault 11 (FIG. 1) which is hung or otherwise mounted on the exterior of a house, building or vehicle, and contains a key K, to be used in opening the door lock thereof. The key is safely contained within the vault in an inaccessible condition, except to authorized persons knowing the combination of the safe.

The vault comprises a rectangular box B (FIG. 1)

having a front wall 13 formed with a rectangular opening 15. A combination lock device 17 constitutes a closure for the opening and comprises a front housing 21 and a rear cover 23 (FIG. 2) secured together by screws 25 (FIG. 3).

The housing 21 has side flanges 31 (FIGS. 1 and 3) to overlie and bear against recessed flange portions of j the margins'3 3 that define the opening 15. The cover has a lip 35 (FIG. 2) to fit under one end portion of the I margins 33, while a retractable latch bolt 37 fits under the other end portion of the margins 33 remote from. the lip 35. The bolt 37, lip 35 and flanges 31 releasably retain the lock device in position closing the opening 15. This safely conceals and prevents unwarranted access to the key K, which is connected by a flexible connector C (FIG. 2) to-the rear cover 23.

The bolt 37 is slidably mounted by slide flanges 38, (FIG. 3) which straddle a guide portion 39 (FIG. 2) of a retractable yoke 40, and by a retract shaft 41 which is carried by the yoke and projects through a slot 42 in the bolt. The bolt is urged toward its operative position by a leaf spring 43 (FIG. 3) whose ends fit in notches 40a of the yoke 40, and whose center bears against a lug 370 on the bolt.

shoulders 46a formed on the interior of the housing 21 and bear against the end portion of the yoke 40.

A retract button 47 is fixed to the outer end of the retract shaft 41. The latter projects through a slot 49 in the housing 21 to provide for limited movement of the button relative to the housing. When the button is pressed downwardly from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2, the bolt 37, if not otherwise restrained, will be moved to a releasing position to enable removal of the combination lock device, thus providing access to the key K.

The yoke has three pairs of stops 50 (FIGS. 2 and 3), one pair for each of the three floating combination rings, 51, 53 and 55 disposed in the lower portion of the recess or pocket 45. Each pair of stops is adapted to fit into a pair of notches 56 formed in the associated ring, when the notches are brought into alignment with the .stops. However, when any of the notches are misaligned, the yoke and its bolt 37 cannot be retracted. This locks the lock device 17 in its closed position.

The combination rings, the yoke 40 and the bolt 37 are part of a combination'lock which includes three drive wheels 61, 63 and 65, wheels 63 and 65 being rotatably mounted on a dial shaft 71, while wheel 61 is fixedly mounted thereon. The shaft projects through and is rotatably mounted on the housing 21, and fixedly carries at its outer end a combination dial 73. The dial has the letters of the alphabet disposed thereon (FIG. 1) and located in equally spaced relation around the periphery thereof. The dial can be rotated to bring the letters selectively into alignment with an arrow on the housing 21, to bring the rings into positions with the notches thereon in alignment with the stops 50 on the yoke 40 (as will be presently explained).

Each drive wheel has three circumferentially spaced drive teeth 81a, 81b and 8 81c (FIGS. 3 and 4) selectively fittable in a series of notches 83 (FIG. 3) formed on the interior of the associated ring. There are 26 notches to correspond to the letters of the alphabet. Each ring has the letters of the alphabet around its right hand face, as the parts are shown in FIG. 2, so that a particular letter combination can be chosen by selectively circumferentially orienting the drive rings when they are placed onto the drive'wheels. For this purpose, the tooth 81a on each ring is designated the master tooth, and it is the one that is aligned with a selected letter of the alphabet when arranging the rings over the wheels.

The left face of the drive wheel 61 (as the parts are shown in FIG. 2) carries a drive lug 91 which is in circumferential alignment with a drive lug 93 on the right face of the center or middle drive wheel 63. The left face of the middle drive wheel carries a drive lug 94 which is in circumferential alignment with a drive lug 95 on the right face of the drive wheel 65.

If all of the drive lugs were fixed, this would prevent the use of at least one letter on the middle and outer rings, as explained as follows: referring to FIG. 5, assume that the ring 51 is placed over the drive wheel 61 so'that the letter A on the ring is in radial alignment with the lug 91 on such wheel. Further assume that the ring 53 is placed over the drive wheel 63 so that the letter A thereon is in radial alignment with the drive lug 93 on such wheel. Further assume that it is desired to select a combination of letters for the lock that begin with the letters A-A. This means that the rings 51 and 53 must be turned (by operation of the dial 73) to bring the letters AA into axial alignment. However, FIG. 5 shows that the engagement between the lugs 91 and 93 would prevent this from happening. The same reasoning shows that a similar problem would exist were lugs 94 and 95 both fixed.

To enable unrestricted usage of all of the letters of the alphabet on the rings, lugs 91 and 94 are made to be circumferentially adjustable, while lugs 93 and 95 are fixed. This is accomplished by mounting each of the lugs 91 and 94 on a shoe (FIG. 4) numbered 101 for lug 91, and locating each shoe in a circumferential guide slot, numbered 111 for shoe 101. The end play of each shoe within its slot is greater than the width of the drive lug, so that in the above example, when it is attempted to bring the letters AA on the rings 51 and 53 into axial alignment, this can be accomplished because when lug 91 engages lug 93, it will shift to allow such axial alignment.

Radial support for the three rings 51, 53 and 55 is provided by the drive wheels 61, 63 and 65, while axial support is provided by the bottom wall 45a (FIG. 2) of recess 45, and the inner wall 23a of the cover 23, and by the contact between the rings themselves. Thus the rings are supported in a simple and effective .manner in a fully floating state. The space between the walls 23a and 45a is just sufficiently greater than the combined thickness of the rings to retain the rings on the wheels 61, 63 and 65 without interfering with the rotary movement of the rings.

In opening the lock, it is necessary to bring the rings of the wheels into desired position, and this is accomplished in the conventional fashion employed in opening the standard rotary dial combination lock. That is to say, the operator first brings the ring 55 to its desired position and leaves it there; then he brings the ring 53 to its desired position and leaves it there; and then brings the ring 51 to its desired position. Because .the rings lie against one another, the frictional engagement therebetween tends to cause unwanted rotation of the rings 53 and 55 during movement between adjacent rings.

To prevent this, a friction brake 121 (FIGS. 2 and 3) is provided. As shown, it is of cylindrical form contained within a generally cylindrical recess formed in the lower part of the housing 21 and communicating with recess 45 within which the rings are housed. In the form shown, the brake is formed of a plastic material, such as polyethylene, and has three flexible drag fingers 123 respectively engaging the exterior edges of the rings. Such edges are provided with a series of ribs 125 thereabout to increase the frictional contact between the finger and edges and provide a detent action. In fact, spring pressed detents could be used if desired. In any event, the brake 121 does provide the necessary holding effect to retain the rings 55 and 53 in place during relative rotation of the rings, whereby to overcome the above referred to unwanted movement.

The brake has a rib 131 on one of its sides to be selectively located in one or the other of two notches formed in the recess for the brake. One notch 135 is the brake releasing notch, while notch 133 is the brake setting notch. Furthermore, the brake is provided with a screwdriver slot 141 (FIG. 3) to enable turning the brake to the desired position. Also, the cover has a recess 145 (FIG. 2) to receive the brake 121, the recess having formed in it an upstanding rib or key 147 which fits in the screwdriver slot of the brake. Thus, unless the properly fitted into place against the housing and the two bolted together.

Certain positional relationships of the dial, drive wheel and combination rings will now be explained to facilitate an understanding of the operation of the lock.

In the form of the invention shown in the drawings, the notches 56 of each ring are lcoated in equally spaced relation on opposite sides of the letter A. Thus, when the letter A of the ring 51 is brought to its upright symmetrical position of FIG. 3, the notches 56 of the ring will be aligned with the associated stops 50 of the yoke 40.

As previously mentioned, teeth 81a of the drive rings aredesignated the master teeth. Whenever the dial is rotated in a clockwise direction to bring all the stops into engagement and shift them over to their endmost positions, these three teeth will be in axial alignment. Also, the drive tooth 81a on drive wheel 61 is permanently aligned with the letter A.

In selecting a combination of letters for the lock, assume that the ring 51 is placed on its drive wheel 61 so that the letter B thereof is in radial alignment with the master tooth 81a. With this arrangement, it is evident that when the dial is turned to align the letter B thereon with the arrow 75, the letter A on the combination ring for wheel 61 will be upright and symmetrically located between the associated stops 50 of the yoke 40. Thus, the yoke, insofar as these notches are concerned, could be depressed.

Assume that it is desired to set the lock for the combination IDB. The cover for the combination lock is removed,.the brake released and the floating combination rings shaken off the drive wheels. The dial is then turned in a clockwise direction to bring all of the wheels to positions with their stops in abutment. At such time the master teeth 81a thereof will be aligned. The combination ring 55 is then placed over the drive wheels and around wheel 65 with the letter I thereof in radial alignment with the master tooth 81a. The combination ring 53 is placed over wheel 61 and around wheel 63 with the letter D thereon in radial alignment with the master tooth 81a. Finally, the last combination ring 51 is placed over the wheel 61 with the letter B thereon in alignment with the master tooth 81a. The brake is set and cover 23 is bolted into place.

Next, the dial is given a sharp turn counterclockwise. This has the effect of misaligning the master teeth 81a. Now, the only way of opening the lock is to bring the combination rings into positions with their notches aligned with the stop 50 on the yoke 40. This is done by rotating the dial several turns clockwise and then bringing the letter I into alignment with the arrow 75. The dial is then turned one full turn counterclockwise and the sufficient part of an additional turn to bring the letter D into alignment with the arrow 75. Then, the dial is turned clockwise until the letter B is brought into engagement with the arrow 75. This has the effect of bringing all of the combination rings to the position of having their notches 56 in alignment with the stop 50.

What is claimed is:

mounted for limited circumferential movement relative to its wheel, each wheel having removable combination rings, said rings being selectively floatably mounted on said wheels,

a case for said wheels and rings and enclosing the same and retaining the floating rings in place on said wheels. I

2. In a combination lock as described in claim 1,

wherein said rings rub against one another during relative rotational movement therebetween,

and means for restraining the rings against inadvertent movement relative to one another. 3. In a combination lock as described in claim 2, wherein the last named means comprises a detenting mechanism movable to and from an operative position.

4. In a combination lock comprising a case, multiple drive wheels therein,

removable combination rings drivingly engaged by g the wheels, said rings constituting a ring pile and being floatingly 6 disposed in said case and in freecontact with one another, i i i g and means on said case providing'a bearing surface on the opposite faces of said pile whereby to retain said rings in operative relation to said wheels.

5. In a combination lock as described in claim 4, wherein said case is split with one part being removably connected to the other, i

and brake means for engaging said rings,

and means for prohibiting assembly of said case unless the brake means is in its operative condition.

6. A combination lock as described in claim 5, wherein said case constitutes a closure for an opening in a wall in a key vault,

said case having flange means engaging the exterior and interior of said wall and a latch bolt releasably holding said case in place.

7. In a combination lock,

a plurality of coaxial drive wheels,

a plurality of combination rings floatingly surrounding and in removable driving engagement with said wheels,

an end face thrusting means in thrusting engagement with the exposed end faces of said rings and constituting the sole means'for axially retaining said rings on said wheels. 

1. In a combination lock, three drive wheels mounted for relative rotation about a common axis, the center wheel having a drive lug on each of its sides, each outer wheel having a drive lug for engagement with the associated lug of the center wheel, at least one of each pair of engaging lugs being mounted for limited circumferential movement relative to its wheel, each wheel having removable combination rings, said rings being selectively floatably mounted on said wheels, a case for said wheels and rings and enclosing the same and retaining the floating rings in place on said wheels.
 2. In a combination lock as described in claim 1, wherein said rings rub against one another during relative rotational movement therebetween, and means for restraining the rings against inadvertent movement relative to one another.
 3. In a combination lock as described in claim 2, wherein the last named means comprises a detenting mechanism movable to and from an operative position.
 4. In a combination lock comprising a case, multiple drive wheels therein, removable combination rings drivingly engaged by the wheels, said rings constituting a ring pile and being floatingly disposed in said case and in free contact with one another, and means on said case providing a bearing surface on the opposIte faces of said pile whereby to retain said rings in operative relation to said wheels.
 5. In a combination lock as described in claim 4, wherein said case is split with one part being removably connected to the other, and brake means for engaging said rings, and means for prohibiting assembly of said case unless the brake means is in its operative condition.
 6. A combination lock as described in claim 5, wherein said case constitutes a closure for an opening in a wall in a key vault, said case having flange means engaging the exterior and interior of said wall and a latch bolt releasably holding said case in place.
 7. In a combination lock, a plurality of coaxial drive wheels, a plurality of combination rings floatingly surrounding and in removable driving engagement with said wheels, an end face thrusting means in thrusting engagement with the exposed end faces of said rings and constituting the sole means for axially retaining said rings on said wheels. 